Anindya Bakrie: Mining Must Benefit All, Not Just the Powerful Few

Jakarta, VIVA – Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Anindya Bakrie, has spoken out on the issue of nickel mining on Gag Island, Raja Ampat.

He emphasized that the mining sector in Indonesia should not be dominated by a small group of people.

According to him, mining activities must bring broad benefits to society, as the sector has the potential to become a sustainable source of economic growth in the future.

“Mining should not be controlled by just a few individuals—it must benefit the wider community,” Bakrie said on Tuesday (June 10).

He added that if mining activities were to continue in Raja Ampat, processing aspects such as the development of a smelter must be properly planned and built in suitable locations.

However, he believes the main step now is to reassess the project while easing tensions to avoid prolonged controversy.

“Let’s cool things down first. Restructure everything so that economic activities can continue, while preserving tourism and the environment,” he stated.

Bakrie also urged the government and mining industry players to improve the overall management of the sector.

This includes better planning, proper implementation of environmental impact assessments (EIA), and serious consideration of environmental sustainability.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of regulating production volume, from extraction to processing and downstreaming.

“This is the right moment to reform how mining is managed in Indonesia,” he concluded.